My name is Melanie Miller and I am a 21-year-old student at the University of Edinburgh. I am currently entering the 3rd year of my Sociology Honours degree, which, in part, involves carrying out an extensive social research project, which spans over the final two years of my university career. This entails creating, researching, examining and evaluating a topic of my choice through the use of primary research in order to enhance and develop my sociological skills and understanding of processes, relationships and norms in the social world.
Regarding the basic notion of the project, my initial thoughts on a feasible subject area turned to the social effects of breast cancer. As I am sure you are aware, it is a disease which affects millions of woman worldwide, and for many, it is a very real part of everyday life, which I believe makes it a genuine and significant social topic to research, as it is something which many people can relate to. I feel that through actively involving those who have experienced breast cancer in their lives in some shape or form, I can connect my findings to wider social beliefs surrounding cancer and compare differing perspectives on how the disease affects lives.
I am in the process of contacting women, like yourself, to propose the possibility of being able to involve you in my research. However, I am extremely conscious of the fact the subject matter at hand is very sensitive and often difficult to comprehend and approach; many people suffering from breast cancer may feel vulnerable and it may be considered upsetting, intrusive and complicated to research and discuss; this is an ethical issue which must be taken into account, of which I would be constantly alert to during the course of my research process. I would obviously do my utmost to be as respectful and attentive to the needs and wishes of those I was working with.
Principally, the project must involve primary qualitative research, that is, data and information that is focused on meaning, experience and process, which is rich in detail and open to complexity and variety. Research techniques are likely to involve some, or all, of the following: observation, both participant or non-participant, qualitative interviews, questionnaires or surveys, documentary of events and secondary analysis of previous literature.
Breast cancer has personally touched myself and my family's lives through the loss of a close relative to the disease. I am genuinely interested to learn more about the dynamics of breast cancer; how sufferers feel about it both emotionally and physically, people's reactions to and perceptions of those with breast cancer, the psychological adaptations sufferers employ in order to cope with and comprehend their diagnosis and illness, the concepts of hope and belief in a cure and the notion of escapism, are just a few of the possible ideas I have in mind that I would like to investigate and gain a deeper understanding of within my project.
Hi Melanie - Thank you for choosing this subject for your final two years of study at university. I'd be pleased to help you by being interviewed, answering questionnaires, or whatever you need. Cancer is more than a physical illness; and breast cancer, in particular, is so close to our female self-identity, it certainly bears examination. I hope you're able to recruit lots of women here; we're from all over the world, so it could be a potentially fascinating group. Good luck, and I look forward to hearing from you. PJH